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Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifronsOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)
Greater-White-fronted Goose Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Spatulate
  • Eye Color: Dark brown.
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown Color: Dark gray-brown
  • Forehead Color: White
  • Nape Color: Dark gray-brown
  • Throat Color: Dark gray-brown
  • Cere color: No Data
Greater White-fronted Goose Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 66-86 cm (26-34 in)
  • Weight: 2721 g (96 oz)
  • Size: Size 4. Large (16 - 32 in)
  • Color: White, Brown, Black, Gray
  • Underparts: Dark gray-brown with heavy mottling and barring.
  • Upperparts: Dark gray-brown
  • Back Pattern: Barred or banded
  • Belly Pattern: Barred or banded, Scaled or Scalloped
  • Breast Pattern: Barred or banded, Scaled or Scalloped
Greater-White-fronted Goose Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Steady direct flight with rapid wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 135-157 cm (53-62 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings, Long-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Banded
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg Color: Orange
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Family Geese (Anatidae)_blue
Species Anser albifrons
Length26 - 34 Inches
Wingspan57.5 Inches

Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose: Medium goose with dark-brown body. Underparts are barred and flecked with black; belly and undertail coverts are conspicuously white. Front of face has a white patch. Bill is usually pink. Legs are orange. Steady direct flight with rapid wing beats. Flies in V formation.

● Song: "kah-lah-aluek", " wah-wah-wah"

● Foraging & Feeding: Greater White-fronted Goose: Feeds mostly on grass, sedges, aquatic plants, berries, and grains; occasionally eats insects and mollusks.

● Breeding & nesting: Greater White-fronted Goose: Three to six buff, creamy white, or light pink eggs are laid in a down-lined grassy depression on tundra. Incubation ranges from 22 to 28 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Greater White-fronted Goose: Other geese lack irregular black spots on bellies and white patch at base of bills. Juvenile (which lacks these marks) has yellow bill, legs, and feet, distinguishing it from juvenile blue phase Snow Geese, which has dark bill, legs, and feet.

Flight Pattern

Steady direct flight with rapid wing beats.
Greater White-fronted Goose Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Greater White-fronted Goose: Breeds in Alaska, far-northern Canada, and Greenland. Spends winters from coastal British Columbia to California, in New Mexico, and along the Gulf coast in Texas and Louisiana; more rarely on the east coast and in the interior. Breeds on marshy tundra; winters on marshes and bays.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationCommon to fairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight96 Ounces